Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer condemn fans who made offensive gestures during Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
Thursday 30 January 2020 19:43, UK
A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a flare during Wednesday's Manchester derby, while Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have condemned fans who made offensive Munich gestures and caused trouble.
Greater Manchester Police arrested a 43-year-old man and are working with Manchester City to identify any offences and offenders following the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Police and the Football Association are investigating a number of alleged incidents of crowd disorder.
Three weeks after City won the first leg 3-1 at Old Trafford, Nemanja Matic scored - and was later sent off for a second bookable offence - in a 1-0 second-leg victory for Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
City progressed to a third successive Carabao Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate win on a night when video footage emerged of some home fans making aeroplane gestures in reference to the Munich air disaster ahead of the 62nd anniversary on February 6.
City are checking CCTV footage and blue seats appeared to be thrown after full-time as tempers frayed.
Asked about the incidents which came a day after United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's house was attacked, City boss Guardiola said: "I don't like it. I didn't know it.
"I don't like what happened with Ed Woodward at home because this is football.
"I am pretty sure you see the squad for United, it's really good. Honestly, it's really good so that is not the way to do it.
"When you talk about what happened, I didn't know it. If it would happen, that is not nice. Absolutely not."
The incidents came after the Premier League clash between the two clubs at the same venue in December which was marred by a City supporter making an apparent racist gesture towards United players.
Solskjaer echoed Guardiola's comments after his side's victory on Wednesday.
"I've just got to stand behind Pep there," he said.
"You know, football is a game. It's a game we should all enjoy - spectators, the ones who watch it on telly, the ones playing.
"I keep telling the players every time 'go out with a big smile and enjoy yourselves'. Work hard, yes, and fans should always try to enjoy the games.
"Yeah, we want rivalry but let's keep it at a sane level and let's make sure we eradicate that now. So, yeah, I stand behind Pep there and I think all of us do. We want to make this a nice game."
